Ben Folds melancholy on 'Sky High'

Friday

Jul 12, 2013 at 6:24 PMJul 19, 2013 at 4:39 PM

Musician Ben Folds made a bit of a stir around here back on New Year's Eve, when he breezed through Mechanics Hall playing bass behind local girl on the rise Alicia Witt. It was a strangely understated moment for Folds, who has been back at the top of his game with the reunion of The Ben Folds Five and the release of the band's critically acclaimed album last year, “The Sound of the Life of the Mind.”

Now, another video has emerged from the songs on that album: The moody “Sky High.”

It's a lovely song — melancholy, maybe even a little somber, especially for an artist who can usually make the darkest of subjects sound vibrant and energetic. Still, while it's not as much fun as last year's “Do It Anyway,” it's still a pretty little song, another unassuming lull in what's been a spectacular comeback.

The Ben Folds Five will perform July 16 at The Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, July 19 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., and July 23 at Tanglewood in Lenox. The band's on tour with Guster and Barenaked Ladies, so if you're feeling some '90s nostalgia, this is a good remedy.

Wait. Is '90s nostalgia a thing? When did that happen? (Victor D. Infante)